smith



(No Model.)

W. BICKFORD-SMITH & G.,J. SMITH. MEANS EOE IGNETING EUSES WITHOUT EXEOSIEG FLAME 0E SPARKS.

DTS/129,597, PaltentedunevlO, 1890.

UNITED STATES -PATENT OFEIcE.

VILLIAM BICKFORD SMITH, OF HELSTON, AND GEORGE J. SMITH, OF TRURO, COUNTY OF CORNVALL, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR IGNITING FUSES WITHOUT EXPOSING FLAMES R SPARKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,597, dated J' une 10, 1890.

Application filed March 25, 1889. Serial No. 304,574. (No model.) Patented in England January 10, 1887, No. 393.

.To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM BIoKEoED SMITH, of Ilelston, county of Cornwall, England, and GEORGE J. SMITH, of Truro, county of Cornwall, England, subjects or" the Queen of Great Britain, doing business at Tuckingmill, in the county of Cornwall, England, have invented certain new and useful Improve-A ments in Means of Igniting Fuses Vithout EX- ro posing Flame or Spark, (for which We have received Letters Patent in England, No. 393, dated January l0, 1837;) and We do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will en- I5 able any person skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means of igniting fuses Without exposing flame or spark, the object being to avoid the risk attending the .so iiring of blasts in an inflammable or explosive atmosphere. For this purpose We employ a match, preferablyofthekindknown as safetymatches, which will ignite only by friction on a specially chemically-prepared surface,

2 5 and we effect its ignition Within a closed tube, in which is inserted the end of the fuse that is to be ignited, as We will describe, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a sectional View illustrating the 3o device. Fig. 2 is a sectional View illustrating the device with a modified arrangement for igniting the match. Fig. 3 is alike sectional View showing another modified form.

In Fig. l, t is an elbow-pipe, into one limb 3 5 of which is inserted the end of the fuse f.

In the other limb is fixed a strip s of chemically-prepared friction-surface. The safetymatch m is introduced loosely, and the mouth of the tube is covered by a iiexiblc hood or 4o bag l), which may be of leather or any fabric capable of being moistened. By pinching the hood b, so as to get hold of the match on, its tip can be pushed along the friction-surface S, causing flame, Which will ignite the fuse f. Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement with the stem of the match m passed through the hole in the plug p. p

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, c is a casing with a tubulaimouth, into which is i11- serted the end of the fuse f. Behind this is fixed in the casing a strip s of chemicallyprepared friction-surface, and the casing is closed by a lid Z. On the upper side of the casingisa slotted hole n, andover this is asliding lid p, having projecting up from it a tubular stem, into which is inserted the stem of the safety-match m, its tip reaching the strip s. On sliding the lid p along, the tip of the match m is rubbed along the strip s, and the flame produced ignites the fuse f. 6o

Although We have mentioned that the matches employed are by preference ot the kind known as safety-matches, Which are not liable' to. accidental ignition, as ordinary matches, obviously with ignition apparatus such as We have described ordinary matches may be used, the friction-surface being in that case simply a rough surface of the usual kind. As a precaution against communication of sparks to the exterior of the apparatus 7o the stem of the match, or the part of it eX- posed externally, may be of any incombustible material, or may be rendered incombustible in any known manner.

IVe claim as our invention- In a means for igniting a fuse, the combination of a casing from which the outer air is excluded, a fuse one end of which is inserted a distance into the closed casing, an igniting-surface arranged au d inclosed Within 8o the casing adjacentto the fuse, a match inserted in the casing with its end to contact with the igniting-surface, and means, substantially as described, Jfor igniting said match, substantially as specified.

IVILLIAM BIOKFORI) SMITH. GEORGE J. SMITH.

lVitnesses to signature of Vm. B. Smith:

W. A. BRAHE,

N otary Public. A. J. MOHUGII,

His Clerk. Witnesses to signature of Geo. J. Smith:

HERBERT E. DALE, GEO. J. B. FRANKLIN. 

